ANDY Cole's agent Paul Stretford today insisted the Blackburn Rovers striker will still go to the World Cup finals in the summer -- despite missing out on England's latest friendly with Italy this week.

Cole was left out of Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for the game against the Azzurri on Wednesday night at Leeds United's Elland Road.

But I can reveal that the former Manchester United man was actually ineligible for the game anyway because it's FA policy not to consider a player who is currently serving a domestic suspension for violent conduct.

That failed to stop some of the national Press from writing him off by insisting the Rovers striker has now been bombed out altogether.

But Stretford believes the 30-year-old forward still has the edge over Aston Villa's Darius Vassell in the scramble for places, despite the fact the England Under 21 international looks set to win his second cap.

"It just shows the ignorance of some of these journalists that none of them realised Andy couldn't be considered for this game anyway," said Stretford.

"When Sven left him out of the last squad against Holland he rang Andy up in person to reassure him that he was still in his thoughts.

"And he wasn't able to pick him this time because of his domestic suspension.

"So for people to write him off now is premature to say the least because there will be plenty more twists and turns yet before the final squad is announced.

"If you compare Andy's record to everyone else's around it's as good as, if not better, than the people he's competing with.

"So we've certainly not given up on him going to Japan and why should we?"

Cole wasn't the only one to taste disappointment when the England squad was announced as his Rovers team-mates David Dunn and Matt Jansen were also overlooked.

With just a handful of games to go that now virtually spells the end of their World Cup dreams for this summer at least.

Graeme Souness and his squad were due back in England from Dubai today following their week long break in the Middle East.